Recently, we were able to speed a week with the all-new 2021 Jeep® Grand Cherokee Overland 4×4 (WL75), the brand’s first 3-row offering using the Grand Cherokee nameplate. Riding on an all-new platform, the Grand Cherokee L is 15 inches longer than the outgoing Grand Cherokee (WK2) and 11.4 inches longer than the all-new 2-row Grand Cherokee (WL74) that will be arriving on dealer lots soon.
This extra length and repackaged interior go a long way towards creating more usable space in the cabin. At 6-foot, 1-inch with a 32-inch inseam, I am able to fit comfortably in all 3-rows of seats of the new Grand Cherokee L. There is also a ton of cargo space, 17.2 cubic feet with all of the rows up, 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.6 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. As you can see in the photo below, we were able to fit a ton of our camera and lighting gear in the back of the Grand Cherokee L with the third row folded flat.
The Grand Cherokee L also features an extremely comfortable, upscale cabin. High-quality materials are used throughout the vehicle’s interior and the design is quite pleasing. At night, there are ambient light stripes that go across the dash, upper door panels, lower door panels, and footwells, which help enhance a more inviting and upscale appeal. You can customize the color to your taste using the Uconnect 5 infotainment system and even adjust the upper and lower ambient light colors independently.
Being an Overland, both the front seats are heated and ventilated. But now there is a massage function that works quite well and helps relieve fatigue on those longer drives. The Overland also features tons of technology and fills the cabin with the Jeep brand’s first application of Active Drive Assist, which uses lane centering and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), falling under the Level 2 Assisted Driving category. The driver does have to keep their hands on the steering wheel, but the Grand Cherokee L will center itself in the lane, take slight curves, and keep its distance from the vehicle in front when the system is engaged.
The Grand Cherokee L also features many new technologies thanks to the new Uconnect 5 infotainment software and features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for two ones at the same time. Our tester was equipped with a 10.1-inch screen with high-resolution graphics and for the most part, was quick to respond to the touch. But we did experience a few issues with the system.
One night the backup camera stopped working and displayed a blue screen, then near the end of the week with it the wireless CarPlay would take longer and longer to connect until it eventually didn’t and we got an error on the screen that SOS call is unavailable and to see an authorized dealer. Clearly, Jeep still needs to iron out some of the issues with its Uconnect 5 system. Disappointing considering it has been a category in which the Chrysler Group has been a leader in the industry for the past decade.
The optional McIntosh MX950 Entertainment System features 19-speakers in 12 locations throughout the vehicle, a 10-inch subwoofer, and provides up to 950 watts of power. Audiophiles will be impressed as the system sounded excellent with great sound reproduction.
When it comes to being able to watch things around the vehicle, our Grand Cherokee L Overland was fitted with a number of different cameras to keep our eyes on everything. There is a high-definition 360-degree camera with multiple camera views to view objects and obstacles outside the vehicle, a digital rearview mirror help to see a wider and unobstructed view behind the vehicle when rear passengers heads are in the way, and the new FamCam system adopted from the Chrysler Pacifica allows the driver to keep their eyes on all passengers thanks to a headliner mounted camera. The FamCam system even allows you to zoom specifically into a seat just by pushing on the touchscreen.
Powertrain options for the Grand Cherokee L remain untouched from the last-generation Grand Cherokee. Our tester was equipped with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 (which is standard on all trims), but we would have liked the optional 5.7-liter HEMI V8 (available on Overland and Summit 4×4 models). Both powertrains are equipped with a smooth-shifting ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission.
Be sure to see our entire in-depth review of the Grand Cherokee L. Our next vehicle we will be reviewing is the all-new Grand Wagoneer, a vehicle we recently had a chance to spend a little time with and that has been a hot topic in the luxury full-size SUV segment.
For those who are already Grand Cherokee L owners or fans of the all-new Grand Cherokee (WL), be sure to visit our dedicated Grand Cherokee (WL) website WLJeepForum.com.
2021 Jeep® Grand Cherokee Overland 4×4 Image Gallery:
BONUS:
For those of you who are eager to see more on the all-new 2022 Grand Wagoneer Series III, you can check out our first look video below.
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